The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has asked its party functionaries in Lusaka to join the nine Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) expected to protest against the mismanagement of public resources by government today.

On September 24, a group of CSOs, led by Miti gave notice to the police for a peaceful demonstration at Parliament on September 28, which is the scheduled day of the 2019 national budget presentation.

The demonstration is aimed at raising public awareness on the way that public resources were being mismanaged by leaders amidst high debt levels in the country.

The CSOs have since asked the general public to turn out in numbers for the peaceful demonstration.

And in a statement, NDC secretary general Mwenya Musenge noted that the idea by the nine CSOs to protest against “reckless” borrowing by the PF government was an act of patriotism.

“The NDC fully backs plans by the NGOCC [and other civil society organisations] to protest outside Parliament over government’s continued borrowing. As a party, we urge all our party functionaries in Lusaka to join the said protests tomorrow (today). The intention by well-meaning civil society groupings, such as NGOCC, to speak out on the reckless borrowing by the PF regime is an act of patriotism. Ordinary citizens have already started feeling the consequences of the aimless borrowing by this regime,” Musenge stated.

He further urged the police command not to block Friday’s protest, saying “we are aware that the NGOCC has fully notified the police command in Lusaka over the planned protest.”

Musenge also called on Attorney General Likando Kalaluka to explain why Cabinet was abrogating the law with impunity over the contraction of loans.

“As NDC, we are worried that the PF has continued contracting new loans without the full approval of Parliament. In this regard, we urge the Attorney General, who is the Chief Legal Advisor to Government, to explain why Cabinet is abrogating the law with impunity over the contraction of loans. As NDC, we also urge our legislators to demand for a detailed report from the Minister of Finance over Zambia’s exact debt. Figures from government over the staggering debt are highly contradictory. In the midst of all this, we further demand that government immediately stops contracting new loans. The NDC is also disappointed that President Edgar Lungu has allowed his salary and allowances to be increased. If Presided Lungu truly cares for his people, we urge him to reverse the hike of his personal emoluments. It’s unfair that the President’s emoluments can be increased following fiscal measures announced by government to reduce public spending,” stated Mwenya, who also urged President Edgar Lungu to reverse the hike of his personal emoluments, amidst fiscal measures announced by government to reduce public spending.